Loom take-up mechanism and method

ABSTRACT

Loom take-up mechanism and method involving the use of conventional friction-slippage means between the driving means and the driven cloth roll shaft, and the supplemental use of additional friction applying means to provide for additional slippage of the cloth roll shaft during the beginning of the build-up of the cloth roll, the effect of the additional friction applying means dropping to substantially zero at an intermediate part of the build-up of the cloth roll, leaving the conventional friction slippage means to control the remainder of the build-up of the cloth roll.

' United States Patent 1 Johnson et al.

LOOM TAKE-UP MECHANISM AND METHOD Inventors: Thomas R. Johnson,Cropwell; Luther K. Joiner, Anniston, both of Ala.

Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick,N.J.

Filed: Oct. 12, 1971 Appl. No.: 188,288

US. Cl ..139/304, 139/311 Int. Cl. ..D03d 49/12 Field of Search..139/304, 307, 308, 309, 310, 139/311, 312; 66/149; 242/68 ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1940 Burdett 1 39/304 Jan. 16, 1973Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Att0rney-Alexander T. Kardos et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Loom take-up mechanism and method involving the use ofconventional friction-slippage means between the driving means and thedriven cloth roll shaft, and the supplemental use of additional frictionapplying means to provide for additional slippage of the cloth rollshaft during the beginning of the build-up of the cloth roll, the effectof the additional friction applying means dropping to substantially zeroat an intermediate part of the build-up of the cloth roll, leaving theconventional friction slippage means to control the remainder of thebuild-up of the cloth roll.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures x l A PATENTED JAN 16 I973 I SHEEI 1 OF 3INVENTORS PATENTEDJAII 16 I975 3.710.829

SHEET 3 BF 3 BY 107 P- ll 'mmr W4,

ATTO R N EY LOOM TAKE-UP MECHANISM AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to improved loom takeupmechanism and method, and particularly an improved loom take-upmechanism and method for use in weaving light weight, open-weave fabricssuch as gauze and scrim.

In a loom, the take-up mechanism supplies the forward motion to thecloth being woven in the loom which controls the spacing of the numberof picks, or filling yarns, inserted per inch in the cloth, therebydetermining the density, weight, and compactness of the woven fabric.

There are two basic types of take-up mechanisms, one is an intermittentor spur gear type which is usually driven by a pawl and ratchet actuatedfrom the lay sword, and the other is the continuous or worm type, drivenfrom the lower shaft through worm and worm wheel. There are other typesof take-up mechanisms but they are less commonly known. Regardless ofthe type of take-up mechanism, however, it is essential (l) that thefabric which is being woven in the loom be wound on the cloth roll shaftin the form of a firm, hard roll rather than a soft roll, and (2) thatthe picks or filling yarns be evenly spaced and extend uniformly anddirectly across the woven fabric, and (3) that undue cloth tensionswhich cause a ripping or tearing of the woven cloth be reduced to aminimum during the weaving, particularly for light weight, open weavefabrics such as gauze and scrim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been discovered that such desirableobjects may be accomplished by controlling the build-up of a cloth rollon a cloth roll shaft by loom take-up mechanism as follows: driving thecloth roll shaft to receive cloth woven in a loom; interposing frictionslippage means du'ring such driving to permit slippage of the cloth rollshaft to avoid undue cloth tensions; supplying additional resistance torotation of the cloth roll shaft at the beginning of the build-up of thecloth roll on the cloth roll shaft to provide for additional slippageprimarily at the beginning of the build-up, whereby ripping and tearingof the woven fabric is avoided; gradually reducing the additionalresistance to rotation of the cloth roll shaft to substantially zero atan intermediate stage of the cloth roll build-up whereby the amount ofadditional slippage is gradually automatically reduced; and completingthe remainder of the cloth roll build-up with substantially only theinterposed friction slippage means providing for the normal slippage ofthe cloth roll shaft.

The invention will be more fully understood from the description whichfollows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in whichthere are illustrated preferred designs and modes of operation embodyingthe invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention isnot to be considered limited to the constructions disclosed except asdetermined by the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partiallycutaway perspecloom take-up mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view showing an essential part of theimproved loom take-up mechanism, namely, the let-off friction clamp;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partially cutaway elevational end view of aportion of the loom showing the improved take-up mechanism of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional detail side view of a portion ofthe apparatus of FIG. 3, taken on the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational detail side view of the let-offfriction clamp at the beginning of the cloth roll build-up;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary elevational detail end view of the let-offfriction clamp at the beginning of the cloth roll build-up;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational detail side view of the let-offfriction clamp at or near the release or end of the application offriction; and

FIG. 6a is a fragmentary elevational detail end view of the let-offfriction clamp at or near the release or end of the application offriction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, and withparticular reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a woven fabric F whichhas just been formed at the fell and is moving over a breast beam ortake-up roll tube 10. The woven fabric F is drawn downwardly in positivefashion and is wound on a cloth take-up roll shaft 12 which is beingdriven in conventional manner by standard driving means.

The driving means for the cloth take-up roll shaft 12 includes a drivingsprocket 14, a cloth roll sprocket chain 16, and another sprocket 18mounted on and driving a rotatable intermediate sprocket shaft 20mounted in bearings in loomside 26. An intermediate shaft reduction gear22 is mounted on the intermediate sprocket shaft 20 and rotatestherewith and meshes with and drives an adjacent cloth roll gear and hub24 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 28 mounted in the loomside 26 andcloth take-up roll stand 44. Adjacent to the cloth roll gear and hub 24is a friction slippage means 30 comprising a hinged, annular, cloth rollfriction clamp 32 rotatably and. frictionally mounted (see FIG. 3) onthe hub 24a of the cloth roll gear and hub 24. The cloth roll frictionclamp 32 is hinged at 34 and frictionally encircles the hub 24a.Friction is applied by the friction clamp 32 to the hub 24a by anadjustable spring means 36 and adjusting wing-nut 37 whereby thefriction clamp 32 may be adjusted loosely to remain stationary and toloosely and freely slide on the surface of the substantially constantlyrotating hub 24a, or it may be adjusted to frictionally slip on thesurface of the hub 24a and rotate with a slower rotation than therotating hub 24a, or it may be so heavily spring adjusted and loaded asto rotate with the same angular speed as the rotating hub 24a. A drivingconnection or dog 40 is provided between the friction clamp 32 and afriction finger hand wheel 42 so that they rotate together at the sameangular speed. The friction finger hand wheel 42 is keyed to the shaft28 and drives the same.

The conventional driving means, and more specifically, the last elementthereof, the cloth roll gear and hub 24, therefore drives the stub shaft28 through the friction slippagemeans 30 at various angular speedsdepending upon the adjustment of the spring means 36.

It is to be appreciated that the spring means 36 must be properlyadjusted so that the fabric F is wound on the cloth take-up roll shaft12 under correct tension, without too much slack which would lead to anundesirable soft roll, or without too much tension which could easilypull the fabric too much to rip and tear it. Too much tension is, ofcourse, particularly bad for lightweight, open-weave fabrics such asgauze or scrim having fabric constructions as open as 3 X 3, 3 X 6, 4 X4, etc., which are somewhat fragile and are easily ripped and torn.

In the normal operation of the loom, and considering only the effect ofthe conventional friction slippage means 30, the spring means 36 isadjusted to provide the proper tension on the fabric as it is beingwound on the cloth take-up roll shaft 12. This adjustment of the springmeans 36 is usually satisfactory for most weaving operations and formost fabrics. However, inthe case of lightweight open weave fabricswhich are more fragile and weaker, occasionally, the slippage which isprovided is insufficient and the light-weight fabric tightens andsometimes breaks under the increased tension. This possibility ofbreakage is particularly notable during the beginning of cloth rollbuild-up when there is very little fabric on the cloth roll shaft.

When such possibility of breakage is reached and is noticed, unless thespring means 36 is adjusted quickly to provide for additional slippage,it is frequently found that the fabric will be wound too tight and willbe ripped or torn. Consequently, the spring means 36 is manuallyadjusted by the loom operator so as to provide for decreased frictionand increased slippage. As the fabric continues to be wound on the clothtake-up roll shaft 12 and the cloth roll increases in diameter, theadjustable spring means 36 is periodically manually adjusted to providefor an increase in friction thus providing for additional decrease inslippage whereby cloth breakage is avoided and a desirable hard roll isobtained.

Such periodic manipulation of the adjustable spring means 36 isundesirable during the operation of the loom inasmuch as such requirescloser and more personal observation of the operation of the loom andcreates increased labor costs. Additionally, it has been found thatafter each adjustment of the spring means 36 is made, a certain periodof time is required for the loom to adjust to such change in tension inthe spring. As a result, for a short period of time after eachadjustment is made, it has been noted that the filling threads are notinserted properly in the fabric and that they do not proceed directlyacross the fabric but that they meander to some extent and are quiteoften unevenly spaced. This is very undesirable and leads to defectivefabrics.

In accordance with the present invention, supplemental additionalfriction applying means is provided automatically to provide foradditional cloth roll shaft slippage during the beginning of thebuild-up of the cloth roll. Such additional slippage, however, isautomatically decreased gradually and drops to substantially zero at anintermediate part of the build-up of the cloth roll. At this point, itis no longer needed and has no substantial effect on the subsequentwinding of the fabric and the conventional friction slippage meanscontrols the remainder of the build-up of the cloth roll.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL FRICTION APPLYING MEANS The supplemental frictionapplying means comprises an upper cloth roll gear 46 which is fixedlysecured, as by welding, to the friction finger hand wheel 42 and rotatestherewith, in keyed relationship with the stub shaft 28. The cloth rollgear 46 meshes with an adjacent lower gear 48 which is rotatably-mountedon a stub shaft 50 mounted in the cloth take-up roll stand 44. Gear 48possesses a let-off friction hub 52 which is encircled by a let-offfriction clamp 54 which is capable of applying friction to the hub 52and thus supplying resistance to rotation of the gear 48 and, in turn,to the cloth roll gear 46 and friction finger hand wheel 42 securedthereto. Such resistance to rotation acts as a brake and slows down therotation of the stub shaft 28, and, as will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter, also slows down the rotation of the cloth take-uproll shaft 12, thus reducing the tension on the fabric being woundthereon and avoiding breakage thereof.

The configuration of the let-off friction clamp 54 with respect to thelower gear let-off friction hub 52 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 50. It is tobe noted that the friction pads 53, 53 of the friction clamp 54 arepressed tightly against the hub 52 and that the extending arms 55, 55 ofthe friction clamp 54 extend in relatively close, generally parallelrelationship.

The amount of resistance to rotation supplied by the let-off frictionclamp 54 is considerable in such configuration which exists at thebeginning of the build-up of the cloth roll on the cloth roll shaft 12but is automatically and gradually decreased as the cloth roll increasesin diameter.

A rotatable, cylindrical pressure roll 56 is guided vertically in slides58 in the cloth takc-up roll stand 44 and rests on the periphery of thecloth roll. It is to be appreciated that, as the cloth roll increases indiameter, the pressure roll 56 will gradually be urged upwardly. Suchupward movement of the pressure roll 56 pulls tension spring 60generally upwardly along with the end of a control lever 62 and a secondtension spring 64 secured to the loom frame 66 or other fixed point suchas the floor.

Control lever 62 is pivoted at a central pivot point 68 and the upwardmovement of its end attached to springs 60 and 64 causes its left handside (see FIGS. 5a and 6a) to move upwardly gradually and its right handend to move downwardly gradually. This causes connection point 70 tomove upwardly and connection point 72 to move downwardly causing uppercontrol lever link 74 to move generally upwardly and lower control leverlink 76 to move generally downwardly. Such movement of the control leverlinks 74, 76 gradually moves the extending arms 55, 55 of the frictionclamp 54 of a more open position (see FIGS. 6 and 6a) and causes thefriction pads 53, 53 to be gradually moved away from the hub 52 wherebythe resistance to rotation of the hub 52 is gradually decreased.

As a result, the resistance to rotation of the gear 48, the cloth rollgear 46, and the finger hand wheel 42 is reduced and the stub shaft 28is now capable of rotat ing more freely.

The stub shaft 28 extends through bearings in the cloth take-up stand 44and its protruding end is formed into a square shaped stud 80 which fitsinto a square shaped recess in the end of the cloth roll take-up shaftl2 and forms a driving connection therewith. Rotation of stud shaft 28thus brings about a corresponding equal rotation of the cloth take-uproll shaft 12.

OPERATION OF THE LOOM TAKE-UP MECHANISM The leading end of the fabric Fwoven in the loom is forwarded to and wound on the cloth take-up rollshaft 12. At this time, the let-off friction clamp 54 is in theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a, with the pressure roll 56 in itslowest position. Considerable friction is applied by the let-offfriction clamp 54 to the hub 52 and creates a resistance to rotation ofthe lower gear 48 and the upper cloth roll gear 46 and the frictionslippage means 30 comprising the friction finger hand wheel 42 and thecloth roll gear and hub 24.

The stub shaft 28 is therefore slowed down and the cloth take-up rollshaft 12 is slowed down correspondingly. As a result, the fabric F isnot pulled forward too strongly and there is considerably less danger offabric rupture. This is critical at this time when there is very littlefabric wound on the cloth take-up roll shaft 12 and when there is only asmall mass or weight thereon.

As the cloth take-up roll increases in diameter and gains in mass orweight, there is less danger of fabric rupture. During such build-up,the pressure roll 56 rises and gradually and automatically angularlyopens up the extending arms of the let-off friction clamp 54, thuslessening the pressure exerted on the hub 52 of the lower gear 48. As aresult, there is less resistance to rotation of the stub shaft 28 andthe cloth take-up roll shaft 12 and they come more under the control ofthe friction slippage means 30 and less under the control of the letofffriction clamp 54.

Ultimately, the cloth roll grows to a sufficient size, the pressure roll56 rises to a high enough position, the extending arms 55, 55 of thelet-off friction clamp 54 open up angularly to an inoperativeconfiguration, and the let-off friction clamp 54 has no further effecton the loom take-up mechanism.

The point at which the let-off friction clamp 54 has no further effecton the loom take-up mechanism depends upon the relationship of thevarious levers and linkages involved and may be adjusted depending uponthe needs of the particular situation. The need for additional slippageis greatest at the outset of the build-up of the cloth roll but suchneed falls off rapidly as the cloth roll increases in diameter. Theexact point at which the let-off friction clamp 54 becomes inoperativeis therefore not critical but it has been determined that it takes placewith the preferred illustrated embodiment of the invention at a pointbetween one-half full cloth roll and three-quarters full cloth roll.

The invention will be further illustrated in greater detail by thefollowing specific example. lt should be understood, however, thatalthough this example may describe in particular detail some of the morespecific features of the invention, it is given primarily for purposesof illustration and the invention in its broader aspects is not to beconstrued as limited thereto.

EXAMPLE A conventional Draper X-3 Loom using a No. 109 Nutting High RollRatchet Take-Up Mechanism is modified as follows in accordance with theprinciples of the present inventive concept. An upper gear having a5%-inch diameter and 52 gear teeth is welded concentrically to thefriction finger hand wheel and rotates therewith on the stub shaft. Alower gear having a 7%- inch diameter and gear teeth and provided with alet-off friction hub having an outside diameter of 2% inches is mountedon a stub shaft and meshes with the upper gear. A let-off friction clamphaving an inside diameter of 2% inches encircles the let-off frictionhub and the extent of its applied friction is controlled by a pressureroll resting on the periphery of the cloth roll and by connectinglinkages and springs as shown in the drawings. The extending arms of thelet-off friction clamp are approximately parallel and are spaced about2%inches apart. The length of the let-off friction clamp, as measuredfrom the center of the let-off friction hub to the connection of thelet-off friction clamp and the control lever links is about 8 inches.The length of the control lever is about 7% inches. The central pivotpoint of the control lever is centrally spaced about 1 inches from eachend connection point or end pivot. The distance from the central pivotpoint of the control lever to the spring connection point thereon isabout 5 inches.

The linkages and springs are so adjusted that maximum friction andresistance to rotation is applied at the beginning of the build-up ofthe cloth but gradually and automatically falls off to substantiallyzero friction at a point equal to about one half the diameter of thefullcloth roll.

The fabric being woven is a 4 X 4 woven cotton scrim. Breakage orrupture of the scrim is reduced to a minimum particularly at thebeginning of the cloth roll build-up. Less attention is given to theloom by the operator during the automatic and gradual decrease of thefriction applied by the added gears and the friction clamp. Nomeandering or irregularly spaced filling yarns in the fabric are noted.

The conventional friction slippage means comprising the friction fingerhand wheel, the cloth roll friction clamp, and the cloth roll gear andhub is used alone to complete the second half of the build-up of thecloth roll and the weaving operation is concluded satisfactorily. Thewoven cotton scrim is commercially acceptable.

Although only one specific working example of the inventive concept hasbeen described, the same should not be construed as limited thereby norto the specific features mentioned therein but to include various otherequivalent features as set forth in the claims appended hereto. It isunderstood that any suitable changes, modifications and variations maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the various Figures of this description, no motors, gears, sprockets,or other driving mechanisms and mechanical elements have beenillustrated in order to provide clarity to the drawings. Such motors andother driving mechanisms or similar mechanical elements are conventionaland persons skilled in the art can readily visualize the use of suchdriving means without further explanation or detail.

What is claimed is:

1. ln loom take-up mechanism comprising a cloth roll shaft for receivingthe cloth woven on a loom, driving means for rotating said cloth rollshaft, and friction slippage means interposed between said driving meansand said driven cloth roll shaft to provide for slippage therebetween,the improvement which comprises: rotatable means secured to saidfriction slippage means; friction applying means capable of supplyingresistance to rotation of said rotatable means and therefore alsocapable of creating additional slippage between said driving means andsaid driven cloth roll shaft; and means responsive to build-up of thewoven cloth on said drivencloth roll shaft to gradually reduce saidresistance to rotation supplied by said friction applying means to saidrotatable means from a maximum at the beginning of said cloth build-upto substantially zero at an intermediate stage of said cloth build-up,subsequent to which substantially the only slippage between the drivingmeans and the driven cloth roll shaft is provided by said frictionslippage means.

2. ln loom take-up mechanism as defined in claim 1, the improvementwherein the rotatable means comprises a cloth roll gear secured to saidfriction slippage means and a lower gear nesting with said cloth rollgear and wherein the friction applying means supplies re-.

sistance to rotation to said lower gear and said cloth roll gear.

3. ln loom take-up mechanism as defined in claim 1, the improvementwherein the means responsive to build-up of the woven cloth on saiddriven cloth roll shaft comprises: a pressure roll in contact with theperiphery of the cloth roll on said cloth roll shaft; a

supplied by said friction applying means to said rotatable means.

4. In loom take-up mechanism as defined in claim 3,

the improvement wherein the rotatable means comprises a cloth roll gearsecured to said friction slippage means and a lower gear meshing withsaid cloth roll gear and wherein the friction applying means suppliesresistance to rotation to said lower gear and said cloth roll gear.

5. in a method for controlling the build-up of a cloth roll on a clothroll shaft by loom takeup mechanism comprising: driving a cloth rollshaft to receive cloth woven on a loom and interposing friction slippagemeans during said driving to permit slippage of said cloth roll shaft,the improvement which comprises: supplying resistance to rotation ofsaid cloth roll shaft at the beginning of the build-up of a cloth rollon said cloth roll shaft to provide for additional slippage atthebeginning of said build-up; gradually reducing said resistance torotation of said cloth roll shaft to substantially zero at anintermediate stage of said cloth roll build-up; and completing theremainder of said cloth roll build-up with substantially only theinterposed friction slippage means providing for the slippage of saidcloth roll shaft.

1. In loom take-up mechanism comprising a cloth roll shaft for receivingthe cloth woven on a loom, driving means for rotating said cloth rollshaft, and friction slippage means interposed between said driving meansand said driven cloth roll shaft to provide for slippage therebetween,the improvement which comprises: rotatable means secured to saidfriction slippage means; friction applying means capable of supplyingresistance to rotation of said rotatable means and therefore alsocapable of creating additional slippage between said driving means andsaid driven cloth roll shaft; and means responsive to build-up of thewoven cloth on said driven cloth roll shaft to gradually reduce saidresistance to rotation supplied by said friction applying means to saidrotatable means from a maximum at the beginning of said cloth build-upto substantially zero at an intermediate stage of said cloth build-up,subsequent to which substantially the only slippage between the drivingmeans and the driven cloth roll shaft is provided by said frictionslippage means.
 2. In loom take-up mechanism as defined in claim 1, theimprovement wherein the rotatable means comprises a cloth roll gearsecured to said friction slippage means and a lower gear nesting withsaid cloth roll gear and wherein the friction applying means suppliesresistance to rotation to said lower gear and said cloth roll gear. 3.In loom take-up mechanism as defined in claim 1, the improvement whereinthe means responsive to build-up of the woven cloth on said driven clothroll shaft comprises: a pressure roll in contact with the periphery ofthe cloth roll on said cloth roll shaft; a control lever responsive tomovement of said pressure roll; and means responsive to movement of saidcontrol lever to gradually reduce said resistance to rotation suppliedby said friction applying means to said rotatable means.
 4. In loomtake-up mechanism as defined in claim 3, the improvement wherein therotatable means comprises a cloth roll gear secured to said frictionslippage means and a lower gear meshing with said cloth roll gear andwherein the friction applying means supplies resistance to rotation tosaid lower gear and said cloth roll gear.
 5. In a method for controllingthe build-up of a cloth roll on a cloth roll shaft by loom take-upmechanism comprising: driving a cloth roll shaft to receive cloth wovenon a loom and interposing friction slippage means during said driving topermit slippage of said cloth roll shaft, the improvement whichcomprises: supplying resistance to rotation of said cloth roll shaft atthe beginning of the build-up of a cloth roll on said cloth roll shaftto provide for additional slippage at the beginning of said build-up;gradually reducing said resistance to rotation of said cloth roll shaftto substantially zero at an intermediate stage of said cloth rollbuild-up; and completing the remainder of said cloth roll build-up withsubstantially only the interposed friction slippage means providing fOrthe slippage of said cloth roll shaft.